2023 NFL Draft: The Cornerback Group Provides High-End Talent and Depth

Another year of college football, another group of supremely talented players across the country. The center of today’s discussion will be on the cornerback class for the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft.

The NFL is trending in such a way that multiple superstar wide receivers enter the league each draft period. Guys like Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase have produced legendary beginnings to their respective NFL careers.

The established veteran talent is paramount, as well. Davante Adams, Tyreek Hill, and Stefon Diggs are all among the best in the entire NFL, not just at wide receiver. Cooper Kupp put together a season worthy of MVP consideration in 2022 and helped the Los Angeles Rams to a Super Bowl title.

In the 2022 NFL Draft, two cornerbacks (Derek Stingley Jr. & Sauce Gardner) went inside the top four! The Houston Texans and New York Jets spent valuable draft capital in order to have a player that can lock down opposing wide receivers at will.

2023 NFL Draft: Cornerback Group Features High-End Talent and Great Depth

This marked the third year in a row that multiple cornerbacks came off the board inside the top nine selections of the draft. Teams are woefully desperate to get capable defenders on the outside and are unafraid to use coveted resources to ensure that.

Even slot-only cornerbacks have started rising in value because many teams deploy a five-defensive back system. The nickelback is a starting position on a lot of NFL depth charts. This helps combat not only wide receivers but running backs out of the backfield and athletic tight ends downfield too.

Keeping all of this in mind; who could be the next prospect(s) to be worthy of a top ten pick? The margins between each tier are incredibly thin at the moment, and of course, should not be taken as a strict order. With that out of the way, let’s dive in and see what the 2023 cornerback class has in store for us.

The Elite

Kelee Ringo (Georgia)

It isn’t by much, but Kelee Ringo stands above the rest at the position as we enter the 2022 college football season. The Georgia cornerback is sat atop the depth chart for the Bulldogs and will be looking to replicate the unit’s success from 2021.

Ringo possesses a near idyllic frame (6’2”, 210 pounds) for a cornerback in the NFL. He uses this size to be physically imposing both in coverage and as an oncoming tackler. The standout play from last year’s College Football National Championship Game came when Ringo intercepted Heisman Trophy winner, Bryce Young, and took it back for six points.

All eyes will be on the former No. 1 overall cornerback recruit. He will have every opportunity in 2022 to prove that all the hype he’s garnered is warranted. He is the early favorite to be CB1 in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Borderline Elite

Joey Porter Jr. (Penn State)

These next few names are not too far behind Ringo, but for one reason or another, they check in a shade below the Georgia cornerback.

Penn State has a strong track record over the past half-decade of sending productive players to the NFL. Joey Porter Jr., yes that Joey Porter, figures to be the next Nittany Lion to make an impact on Sundays.

The biggest selling points for Porter Jr. include his size and length, starting experience, and NFL bloodlines. Entering his third season as a starter, Porter Jr. is still just as hungry as ever to hone his craft.

To hear his name on day one of the NFL Draft, and perhaps as the first cornerback taken, he must clean up his technique. The physicality he plays with oftentimes hurts the team as much as it helps. If he can cut down on the penalties, there is a clear path to CB1 for Porter Jr.

Cam Smith (South Carolina)

While Cam Smith isn’t quite the athlete that the previous two entries on this list have proven to be, he more than makes up for it with a near-flawless technique in coverage. He has a high football IQ and a knack for sticking to his assignments like glue.

Across his 11 games played in 2021, Smith allowed multiple catches only twice. He allowed a mere 15 receptions last season, supporting his case as one of the best cover cornerbacks in the entire nation.

If he wants to shoot up the draft board and become a first-round pick, like former Gamecock Jaycee Horn, Smith will have to prove that his shortcomings as an athlete won’t hold him back at the next level.

Even without the number of starts that some others in this class have to their name, Smith matches their production with ease. His 14 passes defended and three interceptions set the pace for South Carolina. Look for Smith’s name to be a hot commodity next spring.

Clark Phillips III (Utah)

Unfair or not, Clark Phillips III will be embarking on an uphill battle when it comes to his size on the field. Phillips lacks the height and overall frame that teams look for when drafting an outside cornerback, but a deeper dive shows that he plays much bigger.

Phillips has started all 19 games during his two-year stint with the Utes, serving as the top cornerback on the roster and also being one of the most productive in the country. The 15 passes defended and 61 total tackles he posted in 2021 highlight this fact.

At the end of the day, Phillips has a chance to work his way into the round one picture, even if he is ultimately shorter than his listed height of 5’10”. Some teams won’t be able to look past this, but there will still be plenty of interest around the league in the Utah playmaker. At a minimum, he should be an impact player in the slot.